Hydraulic transmission for automobiles.



B. H. STBVENSON. HYDRAULIG TRANSMISSION' FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APLIATION FILED SEPT. 27| 1909. 6,226., Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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B. H. STEVENSON. HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION FOB. AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Z7. 1909. 976,226. Patented mm2, 1910.

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MRW-wam B. H. STEVENSON.- HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION PoR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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B. H. STEVENSON. HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION POR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.4

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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BENJAMIN STEVENSON, 0F HAMLER, QHIQ HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSON FOR AUTOMOJ-BILES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

-, Patented Nov. 22, 19161?.

Application led September 27: 1909. z Serial No. 519,677.

To all/whom it may concern: Be 1t known that I, BENJAMIN H. STEVEN- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamler, in the county of Henry, State of Ohio, have' invented certain new and use-L ful Improvements in Hydraulic Transmission for Automobiles; and I do hereby de-l clare the following .to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to automobiles and has special'reference to a drive for such devices.

The invention furthermore refers more especially to a mechanism-for the hydraulic power from the engine to One object of the invention is to provide an improved means for the transmission of power by hydraulic apparatus from the engine to the drive shaft of the automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for controlling the speed of the automobile, the control being `obtained while the engine runs at uniform speed bythe variation in the amount of fluid transmitted.

A third object of the invention is to pro? vide a mechanism of this character wherein a constant circulation of liquid will be obtained during the entire time the engine is running.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide an improved reversing mechanism for an engine of this character.

A ifthobject of the invention is to provide an improved reversing valve for use with such mechanism. l

With-the above and otherl objects in view l the invention consists in general of an en- 'ti-cylinder type, each cylinder of the engine being directly connected to a pump, in combination with a source of luidfsupply, certain valve mechanism, and adriving mechanism for the driving axle.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construct-ion and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,A and specifically set .forth inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts "in the several views, and z-Figure 1 is a side ele- ,vation ofv an automobile chassis vequipped gine, preferably of the mul with thisinvention. Fig. 2 (is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail transversesection through one of the engine cylinders showing the valve arrangement therefor. Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3L Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an venlarged detail view of the drive motor which actuates the transmission gearing for therear shaft.v Fig. 7 is an' enlarged detail sectional view through the starting and stopping valve. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the valve removed from its casing, the view being at right angles to Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an end view of this valve. Fig. l0 is an enlarged detail section through the reversing valve. Fig. l1 is a section on the line 11-411 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a section controlling device. Fig. 13 is a view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 6. Fig. 15 is a View of a form Oftransmission gear adapted to be used with this invention.

' The automobile here shown is provided with the usual rearI wheels l2Q* and front Wheels 21 and the rear wheels are mounted on an )axle 22 which constitutes the drive axle in the present instance, while the front wheels are mounted on knuckles 23.

' At 24 is a steering post and this steering post is in the form of a. tube to which is securely fastened a steering wheel 25and 'which-is connected by suitable mechanism to the knuckles of the front Wheels as indicated at 26, itbeing understood that this mechanism is merelytypical of any prenot deemed necessary.

is here indicated as a six cylinder engineand this engine is ofthe usualv internal' combustion type. Each c linder of the engine comprises a combust'on chamber\ 27 whereln moves a pistonv 28. These combustion chambers are each provided with the usual valve some form of sparking plug as indicated at 31. ,The cylinder 4forming the combustion chamber has around the lower end thereof a broad flange 32 whereto is secured la cylinder 33 provided with oppositely ldlsposed guides 34. ,Connected to the piston 28 1s a rod 35 whereon isy mounted a cross head 36 provided with fork ends 37 which fit the guides 34. This cross head is furthermore provided with an opening 38 extending subthrough the steering post showing the valveferred form' and that detail description is Mounted on the vchassis is an engine inlet 29 and valve outlet 30 as well as with `stantially the entire length of the cross head between the fork ends 37 and in this opening slides a crank block 39. This block 39 slides freely in the opening 38 and is provided with oppositelydisposed trunnions 40. At 41 is a crank shaft whereon are crank arms 42 the free ends of which engage the trunnions 40. INow, it will be observed that as the explosion takes place the parts just described form what is commonly known in mechanics as a slider crank. Vhere more than one cylinder is employed the cranks will be set at angles to each other as is comlnon in devices `f this character so vthat the explosions in the cylinders will take place one after the other according to thc number of cylinders employed.

Secured to the lower end of the cylinder 33 is a pump cylinder 43 having a wide flange 44 to enable it'to be attached to the cylinder 33"and this pump cylinder contains a valveless piston 45 which is connected to the cross head 36 by means of a piston rod 46. Attached lto the lower end of the pump cylinder 43 is a valve casing 47 and the pump cylinder is provided with an outlet port 48 wherein is held ,an outlet valve 49.- The pump cylinder is furthermore provided with an vinlet port 450 which is controlled by an inlet valve 51. The outletI valve' 49 is pro-f vided with a stem 52. Surrounding the stein 52 is a spring the lower end of which rests against thevalve casing while the upper end bears against the outwardly opening` valve 49 so that this valve is normally held closed by the action ofthe spring 53. The valve 51 is provided with a stem 5.4 and on this stem is a collar 55. Surrounding the stem 1s a spiral spring 56 one end whereof bears against the collar 55 while the ether end@ bears against the lower end of the cylinder 43.` In this manner the inlet valve 1s normally held closed. v

At 57 is a tank which contains a suitable fluid which will be referred'to throughout this specication as water although it 1s obvlous that oil or some non-freezing liquid may be used. Extending from the tank 57 to the inlet side of the valve casing 47 is a pipe 58 and'extending from the outlet side of the valve casing is a pipe 59. The pipe' 59 leads to a valve casing 60 which is provlded with a cap 61. This valve casing is enlarged at the center to form a valve chamber 62 provided with a suitable valve seat 63 agamst which a valve 64 is adapted torest when the device is in runnin cap 61 is likewise provided with a valve seat 65 against lwhich the valve 64 is adapted to.rest when the device is in the position in which no power is transmitted to the rear axle. This valve is of peculiar construction and comprises a cylindrical body terminating in frusto-conical ends 66 to conform to the valve seats 63 and 65 iand beyondthese `ward from each end.

position. The

frusto-cohical ends are further .cylindrical portions 67 of less diameter than"v the body and having through slots 68 openingaout- Connected to the same end of the valve casing 60 as the pipe 59`is a pipe 69 'which leads back to the tank 57. Now, it will be observed that when the engine is running the pump cylinder 43 will be filled with water drawn through'th'e inlet valve as the piston risesand this water will .be driven out throu h the outlet valve as the piston falls. Now 1f the valve 64 be so positioned that it lrests against the valve seat 65 the water will flow through the pipe 59 and into the chamber 62 from whence it will escape through the slot 68 at one end of the valve to the pipe 69. It-will thus be returned to the, tank without having performed any useful work. Connected to the cap is a pipe 7 O'which is in turn connected to a reversing valve casing 71 which is divided intermediate its ends by a septum 72 having a perforation 73 in the center thereof'. @n each side of the septum 72 is a piston 74 and these pistons are mounted on a valve stem\7 5 which projects through a stuffing boX 76 at one e d .of the valve casing 71'l On the saine Side' of the septum as that into which the pipe opens is a port 77 wherefrom a pipe 78 leads to a motor casing 79 surrounding the rear axle' 22. lVithin the motor' casing and.projec'ting through one side thereof. is a sleeve 80 whereto is fixed a main drive gear of a train ogf differential' gearing. typically` indicated at 81. Mounted `inside of the casing 79von the sleeve 80 is a hub 82 whereto is connected a series of impact turbine blades `or` buckets 83 and the pipe 78 vopens into the casing 79 atO the pro er angle to strike these blades or bue (ets. Extending from the casing 79 at the opposite angle to the pipe 78 is a pipe 84 which opens through a port 85 into the valve casing 71 on the side of the septum opposite the port 77. On the` same side asx the .port 85 is a second port 86 with which/ communlcates a pipe 87 which returns to the tank 57 and opens therein through a lport 88. The pipe 78 also communicates with the rear portion of the valve casing by means of a port 89 while the .pipe 84 communicates with the forward portion of the valve casing by means of a port 90.

- Now, referring to Fig. 11, if the plstons be positioned as indicated in dotted lines in pipe 87 and return to the tank 57 Vto be used previously described, through the pipe 87 and return to the tankwlt will 'thus be in one direction or. the other and as the gear` observed that by proper adjusitment of the pistons the drive motor may be Vcaused to yrotate in either direction, as desired.` Furthermore, by regulating the position of the caused to pass through tlie pipe 70 so that a greater or less force may be exerted on the motor.

ln order to provide lfor the controlling of the reversing valve there are mounted on the chassis suitablebrackets 91 through which passes a threaded portion 92 ofv the' valve stem 75 and on this threaded portion is held a bevel gear 93 threaded to properly fit this portion of the stem. j

l`Within the sleeve 24 is rotatably mounted a sleeve 94 upon the upper end of which is an operating handle 95 while upon the lower end of this sleeve is carried a segmental gear 9G which meshes ,with the gear 93. Now, by properly positioning the handle 95 the segmental gear will be caused to revolve 93 rotates -it will actas a stationary nut for the threaded portion 92 of thel stem -7 5 and willthus cause the piston 74 to tak'e position either as shown in full or as shown in dotted lines. V y

ln order to operate the valve G4 the same is provided with a stem.97 whicly projectsv through a stiiiiing box 9 8and is provided with athreaded portion 99. Mounted on the chassis are Ibrackets LlOO'through whichv y passes the threaded port-ionf99 and between these brackets on thisthreaded portion is held a threaded gear/101 similar to the gear 93. In order l.to rotate this gear .101 there is mounted within the sleeve 94 a rod 102 having at its upper end an operating handle 103 while upon itslower end is mounted a beveled segment 104. vThe operation of this valve is precisely similar to that of the reversing valve, that is to say, by turning the handle 103 in` one direction^ orv another,vas the case` may be, the position of the lvalve 64 can be accurately adjusted.

In the operation of the entire device the i-valve 64 is first positioned so that it closes the'pipe 70. `The engine is then started and as soon as circulation' has been established be; tween tle pipes 59 and 69, the piston 74 rhaving been properly positioned-meanwhile,'the valve 64 is moved I` to openthe pi'pe 70 and this results in throttling the flow through neet-ing the end i the pipe 69. The automobile is thus started without shock and the valve 64 may be slowly closed wit-h reference to the pipe 69 until the full force ofthe engine is filling the'- motor casing. In stopping-the automobile -it is merely necessary to shut oit the How through the pipe 70 when the automobile will stop of its own accord, or if a sudden stop be desired, the position of the reversing 'valve may be changed to throw the fluid lpressurein the opposite direction through the motor chamber.`

There has thus been provided a simple andV etlicient device of the kind describedl and yfor the purpose specified. valve 64 more or less of 'the water may be Having thus described the invention, what 1s claimedas new, is

l. In an automobile power transmission, a

` reversing valve, comprising a casing having a septum thereacross to divide the casing into front and rear chambers, the front chamber being provided with an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports lying on opposite sides of the inlet port,` and said rear chamber being provided with-an outletport and pair of inlet ports lying on opposite sides of the outlet port, a piston valve in eachlcliamber, and a valve stem connecting said pistons whereby the pistons may be' reversed to lie on either side ot the central ports ot the respective chambers.

2. In an automobile power transmission, a reversing valve comprising a 'casing having a septum thereacross to divide the casing into front and rear chambers,the front ,chamberbeing provided with anI inlet port `and a pair of outlet, ports lying on opposite sides of the inlet port, the rear chamber be-y4 ing provided with an outlet port and a pair of inlet portsl lying on opposite sides of the outlet port, a piston valve in each chamber,

a valve stem connecting said pistons whereby the pistons may be moved to lie on either side of the central ports of the respectiveA chambers, a reversible motor, and pipes conports of said chambers with saidamotor.

3. The combination with an automobile having a steering post; of a reversing valve,

Vcomprising a casing having a septum thereacross to divide thecasing into front and rear chambers, the front chamber being provided with an inlet port disposed centrally ofsaid chamber and a pair of out-let ports lying on opposite sides of said inlet port at the ends ofrsaid chamber, the rear chamber' being provided with a centrally disposed `outlet port-and a pair of inletJ ports` lying on opposite sides of the out-letl portA at the ends of said rear chamber, a piston valve in each chamber, a valve stem connecting said pistons Wherebythe pistonsmay be reversed to lie on either side( of the central ports of the respective chambers, means on the steering post operatively connected to .said valve of said chamber and a pair of outlet ports' lying `on opposite sides of said inletv port at the ends of said chamber, the rear chamber being provided with a centrally disposed outlet port and a pair of inlet ports lyingon opposite sides of the outlet port at theends of said rear chamber, a piston valve in each chamber, a valve stem connecting said pistons whereby the pistons may be reversed to lie on either side of the central ports of the respective chambers, means on the steering post operatively connected to said valve stem, a reversible motor, pipes connecting the end ports of Said valve chambers .With said-motor, an engine, a pump actuated by said engine, and pipes leading from .said pump to the central ports of said chambers.

5. Thecombination With an automobile having a steering post; of a reversing valve, comprising' a casing having a septum thereacross to divide the casing into front and rear chambers, the front chamber being provided With an inlet port disposed centrally of said chamber and a pair of outlet ports lying on opposite sides of said inlet port at the ends of said chamber, the rear chamber being provided with a centrally disposed outlet port and a pair of inlet ports lying on opposite sides of the outlet port at the ends of said rear chamber, a piston valve in each chamber, a valve stem connecting said pistons whereby the pistonsmay be reversed to lie on either side ofthe central -ports of the respective chambers, means on the steering post operatively connected to said valve stem, a reversible motor, pipes connecting the end ports of said valve chambers with said motor, an engine, a pump actuated by said engine, pipes leading from said pump to the central ports of said chambers, valve means in one of the last mentionedpipes,`

and means on said steering post operatively connected to said valve means. I 

